BIDIRECTIONAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DIABETES MELLITUS AND PERIODONTAL DISEASE: CLINICAL, ETIOLOGICAL, AND THERAPEUTIC ASPECTS

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a condition of great importance in the context of periodontal health. It is a complex metabolic condition characterized by chronic hyperglycemia. Periodontal disease (PD) is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects the tissues supporting the teeth, and its occurrence has been definitively established as a result of the interaction between the oral microbiome and the host’s immune response. The objective of this study is to analyze the bidirectional relationship between diabetes mellitus and periodontal disease, considering their clinical aspects, causes, and treatments, as well as their implications for diagnosis and management in dental practice. This study is a qualitative literature review aimed at examining the bidirectional relationship between diabetes mellitus and periodontal disease, with a focus on clinical, etiological, and therapeutic aspects. To conduct this study, a literature search was performed in the following electronic databases: National Library of Medicine (PubMed), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), Virtual Health Library (VHL), and ScienceDirect. For the study search, the following Health Sciences Descriptors (DECS) were used: Diabetes Mellitus; Periodontal Disease; Periodontitis; Bidirectional Relationship; Systemic Health. The inclusion criteria were scientific articles published between 2019 and 2026, available in full in Portuguese, English, or Spanish, that directly addressed the relationship between diabetes and periodontal disease. The exclusion criteria were duplicate studies, works not directly related to the research objective, and abstracts without a full text available. First, we identified 105 studies for this review. Immediately thereafter, after applying the previously defined inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 9 articles were selected for this review. In this context, interdisciplinary collaboration between dental and medical professionals is essential for the effective treatment of patients with diabetes mellitus and periodontal disease.